Exploring the cellulolytic activity of environmental mycobacteria

MON, MARÍA LAURA; ROMANO, NELSON; FARACE, PABLO DANIEL; TORTONE, CLAUDIA A.; ORIANI, DELIA S.; PICARIELLO, GIANLUCA; ZUMÁRRAGA, MARTÍN JOSÉ; GIOFFRÉ, ANDREA KARINA; TALIA, PAOLA M.

Tuberculosis (Edinb)

CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE

Lugar: ESCOCIA; Año: 2024 vol. 147

1472-9792

Although studies on non-tuberculous mycobacteria have increased in recent years because they cause aconsiderable proportion of infections, their cellulolytic system is still poorly studied. This study presents acharacterization of the cellulolytic activities of environmental mycobacterial isolates derived from soil and watersamples from the central region of Argentina, aimed to evaluate the conservation of the mechanism for thedegradation of cellulose in this group of bacteria. The molecular and genomic identification revealed identitywith Mycolicibacterium septicum. The endoglucanase and total cellulase activities were assessed both qualitativelyand quantitatively and the optimal enzymatic conditions were characterized. A specific protein of around 56 kDawith cellulolytic activity was detected in a zymogram. Protein sequences possibly arising from a cellulase wereidentified by mass spectrometry-based shotgun proteomics. Results showed that M. septicum encodes for cellulose- and hemicellulose-related degrading enzymes, including at least an active β-1,4 endoglucanase enzyme thatcould be useful to improve its survival in the environment. Given the important health issues related to mycobacteria, the results of the present study may contribute to the knowledge of their cellulolytic system, whichcould be important for their ability to survive in many different types of environments.